SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team will return home for a pair of games against the Northwood Timberwolves in a GLIAC series. The Lakers will open the series on Friday, Feb. 12 at 6:00 p.m. and the second game is set for a 3:00 p.m. tipoff on Saturday, Feb. 13. Both games will be played in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Due to COVID-19 related changes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) scheduling process for the 2021 season, teams will play a pair of games against the same opponent each weekend.
The Lakers
Through the first nine games of the season, Lake Superior State has posted a 1-8 overall record in GLIAC play. Last weekend, the Lakers hosted the Northern Michigan Wildcats for a pair of games in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium. The Lakers fell to the Wildcats in the first game by a score of 62-46 and dropped the second game by an 83-66 final.
Following the first month of the 2021 season, the Lakers have been led by the team's large incoming class as well as some key returners. Sophomore forward Mattison Rayman, who has started all nine games she's played in this season, has averaged 11.2 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds per game with 6.8. Rayman enters the weekend against the Timberwolves in fourth place among all GLIAC players in rebounds per game. Rayman, who averages 25.2 on the floor each game, ranks third among her teammates with a 43.4 shooting percentage this season. Last weekend against the Davenport Panthers, Rayman posted consecutive double-doubles with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the first game, and 15 points and 11 rebounds in the series closer.
Newcomers Makenzie Bray and Jaden Wilder have both made an impact on the floor in their first season with the Lakers. Bray, a transfer forward, is averaging 8.3 points per game and posted a season-best 16 points against Ferris State on Jan. 26. The forward has recorded four double-digit point games this season. Bray has the second best shooting percentage from three (36.7%) on the team.
Wilder, a freshman guard, has started the past six games for the Lakers and played a season-high 40 minutes against the Panthers on Saturday. Wilder has registered double figures in points in four of the last six games for the Lakers, and ranks second on the team with a 44.2% shooting percentage.
As a team, the Laker offense is combining for 54.8 points per game this season on a 33.7 shooting percentage and a 24.3 percentage from three. Lake Superior has recorded an average of 32.4 rebounds per game this season.
Last Season's Series
Last season, the Lakers and the Timberwolves met twice with Northwood winning both contests. The Lakers fell by a final score of 52-42 in a road game on Jan. 11, 2020 and Northwood won the second meeting by a final score of 58-45 in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Scouting the Timberwolves
Northwood will travel to Sault Ste. Marie to play the Lakers in a two-game GLIAC series this weekend, for the only meeting between the two programs this season. The Timberwolves are led by head coach Jeff Curtis, who is in his 16th season in the role at NU. Last season, the Timberwolves posted a 10-18 overall record (8-12 GLIAC) and was voted to finish fifth in the standings in the GLIAC South Division Preseason Poll.
Last weekend, the Timberwolves split a pair of games in a home series against the Northern Michigan Wildcats, winning the first game 69-60 and falling in the second game, 55-53. Through 11 games this season, Northwood has posted a 7-4 overall record.
The Timberwolves are led by sophomore guard Makenzie Todd who has averaged 11.4 points per game this season. Todd, who has come off the bench for Northwood in all 11 games this season has totaled a 40.0 shooting percentage and a 37.9 percentage from three.
Eight players for the Timberwolves are averaging over six points per game this season as the team's offense has been evenly distributed. Freshman center Alana Nelson ranks second among her teammates with 7.9 points per game and her 56.9 shooting percentage is the best among all GLIAC players. In addition, Nelson ranks second on her team in rebounds per game (4.6). Sophomore guard/forward Adele Kemp, who averages 6.6 points per game, leads all GLIAC players in three point percentage this season (57.1%).
As a team, the Timberwolves offense is combining for 70.3 points per game this season on a 39.6 shooting percentage and a 34.6 percentage from three. Northwood has recorded an average of 38.5 rebounds per game this season.
Follow the Lakers
Due to State of Michigan, GLIAC and Lake Superior State University mandates, fans are not currently permitted to attend any Laker sporting events. Even though spectators cannot currently attend Laker home games, there are still a number of ways that fans will be able to follow the game action. All Laker home games during the 2021 season will be available to watch live on Stretch TV. For more information or to sign up for a subscription, visit https://portal.stretchinternet.com/lssu/. Fans can also tune in to the radio broadcast on ESPN 1400, the official radio station of Laker basketball.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com
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